Improved car-cottfunq



H; ,w. BOIFEUILLET. Y

Car Coupling.

l Patented Dec. 29, 1868.

ujtd tant @anni tits.

BOIFEUILLET,IOF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

Leners Patent No. 85,359, dated December 29, 186s.

DEPROVED CAR-COUPLHIG.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, H. W. BorrEUrLLnr, of Savan- `nah, in the county of Chatham, and State of Georgia,

have invented a new and improvedv Gar-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear', `and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part proved car-coupling, which shall be so constructed and arranged as t0 be self-coupling, and so as to be adjustable, to support the link at any 'desired elevation, to enter thev bumper of the adjacent car when the cars are run together; and

It consists in the construction and combination of various parts of the coupling, as hereinafter more fully described. 4

A is the bumper, whichfissecurely connected with draught-bar and frame of the car in the ordinary manner.

B is the coupling-pin, which passes down through the bumper-head A and through the link O, to couple ,the cars and sustain the draught-strain, in the ordinary manner. Y

D is a plate, the forward or upper edge of which is pivoted to the forward part of the upper side of the cavity of the bumper-head A, as shown in fig. 2.

The plate D is rnade of such a size that, when allowed to drop freely, its loweredge may strike against Athe lower side or part of the bumper-head, and thus be prevented from ever dropping into a vertical position, but which may be raised into a horizontal position, so as to lie along the upper side of the said bumper.

The plate D has an elongated hole formed through it for the pin B. By this construction, when the coupling-piu B and coupling-link C are removed, the plate D drops down until its rear or lower edge rests upon the lower side of the bumper A. If now the couplingpin B is inserted in its place, its lower end will enter the elongated Ahole through the said plate, and rest upon the lower side of said hole. Then, as the cars are run together, the coupling-link of the adjacent car, as it enters the vbumper-head A, will strike the plate D 'and raise it, allowing the pin B to drop through the link, securely coupling tbe cars.

E is a curved plate, the rear edge of which is pivoted to the rear part of the lower side of the bumper A, by means of the square shaft F, which passes through a square hole'in said plate, and which works in bearings formed in or attached to said bumper A, so that the said plate E may be operated by operating the shaft F.

The forward part of the curved plate E passes'up through a transverse slot in the forward part of the lower side of the bumper A, so that the link, O may rest upon the upwardly-projecting edge of the said plate E, and be adjustably supported in proper position to enter the bumper-head of the adjacent car when the two cars are run together.

The middle part of the curved plate E is slotted longitudinally, as shown in iigs. 2 and 3, S9 that it'and the pin B cannot interfere with each others working, should a long pin be used.

To one end of the square shaftli is rigidly attached an arm, G, projecting upward, and having a pawl or l catch-arm, H, attached to its upper end, which takes hold of the teeth of the rack I', formed upon or attached to the upper part of the bumper A, in such a position as to be out of the way, so as tohcld the curved plate E securely in any position into which it may be adjusted.

In the rear part of the cavity of the bumper-head A are formed recesses, one or more, to assist the curved plate E in holding the link C securely in the proper position to enter the bumper-head of the adjacent car when the cars are run together.

It should be observed that the forward edge of the lower side of the burnperAis cutaway, or nade shorter than the other sides, so that the said side, which is weakened by the transverse slot through which the curved plate E passes, may not be injured vby the concussion when the cars are run together'.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the rack II,-pawl or catch-arm H, arm G, and square shaft F, with the bumper-head A and curved plate E, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 26th day of September, 1868. v

. H. W. 4BOIFEUILLET.

Witnesses:

- T. H. WILLIAMS,

A. E. J ONES. 

